Pyrrhocactus robustus

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Since 4 Aug 2013

Pyrrhocactus robustus F.Ritter
Succulenta (Netherlands) 1960, 65 (1960)
Family: CACTACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta (F.Ritter) Katt.
Eriosyce (Cactac.) gen. revis. & ampl. (Succ. Pl. Res., 1) 117 (1994)

Pyrrhocactus robustus (Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Origin and Habitat: Maule (VII región) to Choapa (IV Región) in the north. Ocoa, Pichidangui, (Parque Nacional La campana, Reserva Mundial de la Biósfera) Type locality: Valparaíso.
Habitat: Rocky outcrop on costal terraces and cliffs.

Synonyms:

Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta (F.Ritter) Katt.

Eriosyce robusta hort.
Horridocactus andicola var. robustus F.Ritter
Horridocactus robustus (F.Ritter) Y.Itô
Neochilenia robusta (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria curvispina var. andicola f. robusta
Neoporteria curvispina f. robusta (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Neoporteria tuberisulcata var. robusta (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Pyrrhocactus andicola var. robustus (F.Ritter) F.Ritter
Pyrrhocactus horridus var. robustus (F.Ritter) F.Ritter
Pyrrhocactus robustus F.Ritter

See all synonyms of Eriosyce curvispina

Description: It is a spherical plants usually solitary characterized by relatively short but very strong and thick spines.
It is one of the the innumerable form of Eriosyce curvipina which is among of the most wide-spread of the Eriosyce species. Plant belonging to this taxon are variable in appearance.
Stem: Globular, up to 15 cm.
Spines: Short but very strong and thick, stiff greyish-brown spines whit darker tip, young spines are brownish while older one became greyish.
Flowers: Flowers are about 4 cm in diameter usually yellowish-greenish with reddish midribs. (but redder flowers are also reported)

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Eriosyce curvispina group

Eriosyce curvispina (Bertero ex Colla) Katt.: (var. curvispina) stem solitary with strongly curved spines more than 20 mm long. Flowers to 5,5 cm in diameter. Distribution: widespread throughout the range of the species.
Eriosyce curvispina var. aconcaguensis (F.Ritter) Katt.: always solitary with strongly curved spines and pure yellow flowers. Stem 4,5 cm in diameter. Distribution: Cuesta Las Chacras, north of Llaillay.
Eriosyce curvispina subs. armata (F.Ritter) Katt.: is similar to variety aconcaguensis differs only for the yellow flowers with deep red midveins. Distribution: south and west of Santiago.
Eriosyce curvispina var. choapensis (F.Ritter) Katt.: has shor but strongly curved spines only 10-15 mm long. Distribution: Valley of the Rio Choapa.
Eriosyce curvispina var. mutabilis (F.Ritter) Katt.: forms clusters. Distribution: endemic Punto Pichidangui.
Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta (F.Ritter) Katt.: stem solitary. Flowers have much elongated pericarpels. Distribution: Ocoa.
Eriosyce curvispina subs. tuberisulcata (Jacobi) Katt.: has straight, very robust spines and nearly red flowers. Distribution: Laguna Verde and adjacent areas, South of Valparaiso, Chile.
Eriosyce robusta var. cabildensis hort.: has robust tan-brown spines. Distribution: Cabildo, Chile.
Pyrrhocactus andicola (F.Ritter) F.Ritter: has long thin and very dense white, yellowish spines. Distribution: Cerro Chivato (between Santiago and
Los Andes)
Pyrrhocactus curvispinus var. combarbalensis F.Ritter: has very pruinose stems (like some copiapoas). Distribution: West of Combarbalá
Pyrrhocactus curvispinus var. santiagoensis: not dissimilar to var. curvispina. Distribution: Aconcagua valley, East of Santiago.
Pyrrhocactus horridus (J.Rémy ex Gay) Backeb.
Pyrrhocactus pamaensis F.Ritter: has dark purple-black stems with brownish-black or dull grey spine. Distribution: Below Combarbalá, , Ovalle East and North-East, Coquimbo, Chile

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Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” vol. 4 The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
3) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
4) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006

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Pyrrhocactus robustus (Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Pyrrhocactus robustus (Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta) Photo by: Cactus Art

Pyrrhocactus robustus (Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Pyrrhocactus robustus (Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta) Photo by: Cactus Art

Pyrrhocactus robustus (Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Pyrrhocactus robustus (Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta) Photo by: Cactus Art

Pyrrhocactus robustus (Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta) Photo by: Cactus Art

Pyrrhocactus robustus (Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Cultivation and Propagation: It is a summer grower species. Easy to cultivate but somewhat rot prone if kept in a non ventilated place. Require a very fast draining drying soil, water regularly in summer, but do not over-water.
Needs a full sun exposure (or light shade) Good heat tolerance. Hardy to at least -5°C ( but probably can tolerate - 10° C for brief periods)
Propagation: Usually propagated from Seeds. (seldom produces offsets)

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Cite this page: "Pyrrhocactus robustus" Text available under a CC-BY-SA Creative Commons Attribution License. www.llifle.com 14 Nov. 2005. 05 Apr 2025. </Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/2501/Pyrrhocactus_robustus>